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E46 (1999 - 2006) The fourth generation 3 Series (E46 chassis) was introduced in 1999 and set the standard for engineering and performance during it's years of production including being named to Car & Driver's 10 best list every one of those years! ! -- View the E46 Wiki

I am in the process of rebuilding my SRS system.
I believe the last component I need to be finished with the job is the Positive Battery Cable Terminal Detonator.

I've found a couple on eBay and there are huge differences in price. I found one that says it fits my year of E46 (1999 323i) for $130...

And I also found one that says it came from a 2001 740IL (E38) for $50. The parts and the plugs seem to look exactly the same .

On www.RealOEM.com they do have different part numbers, but what they are selling is a repair splice kit. I don't need that whole thing. I just need the part outlined in GREEN in this picture. Just the post grabber and the SRS wire+plug. I don't need to splice anything. As seen in this video, it does say BMW E46 E39 E38 E53 X5 Z4, I'm assuming that means the procedure is the same, but are the parts exactly the same?

The actual terminal and the cable should be one piece. They are not meant to be seperated, if you seperate the cable, it will be rendered useless because the SRS light will come on. Get the first 24 inches of the cable, and splice it in. If you want to avoid splicing, buy the whole cable from another e46, and run it all the way to the firewall.

The actual terminal and the cable should be one piece. They are not meant to be seperated, if you seperate the cable, it will be rendered useless because the SRS light will come on

Did you watch the video?
It seems like it is designed to be a two way street.
It is detonated and separated on collision.
But it can obviously be put back together with a plug unit that has not been detonated.

Are you saying that the person who made that video (eBay seller/BMW dismantler) is wrong, and the part he is selling is completely useless?

It seems like a feasible procedure to me. As long as there is a good connection (where the battery cable meets the detonator) and a good/non deployed detonator from a vehicle without collision that is.

Edit: I should add that the unit does not deploy when you separate the pieces.

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If you keep on doing what you've always done
You'll keep on being what you've always been
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Edit: I should add that the unit does not deploy when you separate the pieces.

Isn't that the purpose of the cable? If you just want the srs light to go away and do not care about safety, rejoin your current cable and solder in a 2.2 ohm resistor.

The last time I tried to seperate and avoid slicing the cable by using the aforementioned method, I ruined the cable, and the srs light stil stayed on. I used to work in the salvage business, and I have done this dozens of times.

Isn't that the purpose of the cable? If you just want the srs light to go away and do not care about safety, rejoin your current cable and solder in a 2.2 ohm resistor.

I do not believe so.

I believe that the SRS part of the cable (yellow plastic part connected to the metal terminal connector) has a very small explosive charge that separates the two pieces. Not the other way around (or in other words, separating the metal pieces does not render the plug ineffective). It is designed to pop the metal connection apart so you cannot start your vehicle, preventing electrical fires after an accident.

I do care about safety.

This is why I purchased the airbags and controversial seat belt tensioners to replace the deployed ones. My goal is to have a safe ride ensuring the airbags will deploy in the event of a collision. And to also get rid of that stupid SRS light both at the same time.

I know my SRS light is on, and I believe it is because of the positive battery terminal detonator.

However I am not sure if my airbags will deploy because of the fact that my detonator is bad.

I just want to make the SRS system right, period. And according to this dismantler, this is a viable and cost effective way to do it.

__________________

If you keep on doing what you've always done
You'll keep on being what you've always been
NOTHING changes unless you make it change